The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) recently issued a set of procedures for the deportation of visitors with expired umrah, hajj or visitor visa. The guideline that was issued is Circular Note No. 91/74/27523/31 and it aims to inform all Consulates in Saudi Arabia about the Royal Amnesty that they are granting for all overstayers. The Royal Amnesty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was announced last September 23, 2010 and is effective from September 25, 2010 until March 23, 2011.

The amnesty is given to overstayers who would voluntarily go to the authorities and to those who are detained for illegal stay. Part of the reason why the amnesty was granted is to solve the problem of overcrowding at the Jeddah Deportation Centers. Listed below are the guidelines for the Royal Amnesty:

1. For violations of the Saudi Law No. M/51 dated 21/8/1426H

Police authorities will provide the Saudi Labor Offices with copy of the police report on cited violations.

The Saudi Labor Office will then decide on the overstayers' labor cases by applying applicable regulations.

The Saudi Labor Office shall also inform the sponsors of the overstayers to present themselves to the Saudi Labor Office.

The overstayers may continue working until their labor cases are resolved.

2. For violations of legal residents and Saudi nationals (without distinction) such as employing, transporting, helping or harboringthose with no legal iqamas such as Hajj or umrah pilgrims or visitors or tourists and the like

The arresting authority will surrender the violator to the Directorate for Expatriates (Wafeeden) of the General Directorate of Passports.

The Wafeeden Directorate shall conduct an investigation and shall take the biometric information (fingerprinting and eye scan) of the individual

The Wafeeden Directorate may release the violator after presentation of guarantee (kafala) and penalty acceptable to the GDP (Jawazat) after it assured that any decision issued by the Administrative Committee of the General Directorate for Passports (Jawazat), either for repatriation or imprisonment, may be implemented.

3. For violators of the terms of the hajj, umrah, visitor or tourist visa

Upon arrest, the police authorities will turn them over to immigration authorities for investigation and biometric documentation (fingerprinting).

The owner of the hajj, umrah, tourist company or the visitor's sponsor shall be summoned by the Jawazat and shall be asked to provide their passports and airline tickets.

The Jawazat will issue deportation visas and will release the violators under the guarantee of a sponsor who must submit proof of their departure within two (2) weeks of such issuance.

Failure on the part of the sponsor to submit proof of the departure could result in the suspension of his personal records and activities in the government's computer system.

4. For those who overstayed their umrah/hajj visas but who voluntarily surrender

For those who present their originalpassports and tickets, the Directorate for Expatriates (Wafeeden) of the General Directorate for Jawazat shall subject them to investigation and routine security checks before they are issued exit visas and are allowed to depart.

5. For those arrested by the police authorities with no form of identification

They will be turned over to immigration authorities.

They will be electronically documented (Jawazat will take their biometrics and fingerprints).

They will be detained until a decision, based on the investigation, is reached by the Jawazat authorities on whether or not they shall be deported or further detained.

Those who will be eventually deported after electronic documentation will never be allowed to enter the Kingdom ever again.

The Philippine Consulate in Saudi Arabia reminds all overstaying Filipinos in Saudi Arabia with expired umrah, hajj or visitor's visas to take advantage of the amnesty. They also provided a guide on what one needs to do to avail of the amnesty andg expedite their deportation:

They should present the original or copy of the passport that they used when they arrived in Saudi Arabia and where the entry number can be found.

They need to provide money to buy a one-way ticket to travel back to the Philippines. Those without passport, either lost or expired needs to prepare an additional SR120.

Go to the Philippine Consulate General - Assistance to Nationals Section for guides on issuance of Travel Documents.

They should also be aware of the following procedures:

When an overstaying Filipino present his passport with the entry number in Saudi Arabia, the Philippine Consulate General will get the appropriate computer print-out record from the Jawazat for Hajj and umrah pilgrims. This print-out is needed for one to be granted an exit visa. This will done on regular work days.

Overstaying Filipinos can only apply for an exit visa on a Saturday.

The Filipino applying for an exit visa will go the Finger Printing Office and bring along the computer print-out of the record obtained from the Immigration Office for Hajj and umrah pilgrims, so his picture, fingerprint and other personal details can be taken. After doing this, the exit visa will be stamped.

The Filipino is required to leave Saudi Arabia the very same day (Saturday) the exit visa is stamped. Those will fail to comply with this rule will repeat the whole procedure.

Filipino without passports either lost, expired or doesn’t have a copy should seek the help of the Philippine Consulate General.